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College Basketball Tip-off: The Jayhawks are coming, Top 25 buzz, headlines and matchups

Andrew Wiggins

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2014, file photo, Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins looks on during a break in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Just imagine how much criticism Wiggins would be getting if No. 8 Kansas was losing. The Jayhawks have reeled off five straight wins despite their star freshman going through the typical freshman struggles. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
(Charlie Neibergall)

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we begin another busy weekend of college basketball action:

The Big Buzz: Rock Chalk Jayhawk

No. 6 Kansas at No. 25 Texas, 4 p.m. ET

Take a gander at who Las Vegas currently considers the favorite to hoist the championship hardware when the dust settles in March. Considering that there are three unbeatens among the nation's the top five teams, the findings may astonish you. Surprise, surprise, it's the 16-4 Kansas Jayhawks! But is it really that much of a shock?

It certainly shouldn't be. Yes, Kansas entered the season chock full of freshman star power and expectations. Andrew Wiggins was to be the next LeBron James, making Kansas the Kentucky of 2012... only better. Then the Jayhawks started the season 7-3, Wiggins was merely impressive rather than spectacular and -- poof! -- the preseason darlings became an afterthought.

As Kansas climbs back into the spotlight -- Wiggins has exploded and the Jayhawks have won seven straight, five coming against ranked opponents -- the forgotten facts have made their doubters look silly. Wiggins doesn't turn 19 for three weeks. Joel Embiid, a Cameroon native who has played the game for only four years, improves each time he runs up and down the floor. And neither Perry Ellis (20) nor Wayne Selden will be legally imbibing any adult beverages anytime soon. In short, the Jayhawks are coming, and at just the right time.

Embiid had stolen the headlines -- drawing far-fetched but understandable comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon -- but the recent play of Wiggins has suddenly made him once again the most compelling talent on a Kansas roster full of it. The 18-year-old(!) Canadian established a career high a week ago at TCU with 27 points, only to top it four days later on the national stage against No. 16 Iowa State.

The freshman shot 62 percent in the two Kansas victories. He drained 14 of 16 free throws. He pulled down 12 rebounds and made 6 of 10 from behind the arc. For all the talk about fellow freshman phenoms Jabari Parker and Tyler Ennis and Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon -- all well deserved, by the way -- the rest of the nation should take notice. Andrew Wiggins has arrived, as USA Today's Scott Gleeson details:

Derrick Rose had a strong-but-quiet freshman campaign in his freshman year at Memphis. Then he hit his stride in the NCAA tournament before turning that success into a lottery pick. Could it be possible that the 18-year-old [Wiggins] had some growing up to do before he started to blossom? It's beginning to look like that's the case.

"Wiggins looks more relaxed. He's more confident. He put too much pressure on himself early in the season, now it looks like he's just playing. For Embiid, it's the same thing. They've adjusted to college basketball. Embiid has done a great job of changing the game on both ends."

Kansas is getting better by the week. Even with all of the criticism and the recent attention on Joel Embiid (all of it deserved), Andrew Wiggins keeps getting better, too. Despite some shaky perimeter shooting, at the end of the season, the Jayhawks can still be as good as anyone.

Wiggins appears to be figuring out ways to assert himself in KU's offense, even though it's not exactly ideal for him. If Wiggins is able to continue his hot streak, he could have a legitimate shot at Big 12 Player of the Year. What a disappointment, huh?

You haven't properly prepared to see Kansas take on Texas in Austin on Saturday until you've watched Wiggins and company take apart the Cyclones:

Top games

Here's a look at some of today's other can't-miss matchups involving teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25:

In this photo taken on Jan. 14, 2014, Florida's Chris Walker plays around on the sideline in Gainesville, Fla. The NCAA cleared the highly touted freshman on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, and said he will be eligible to play Tuesday night against Missouri. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)Phil Sandlin

• As director of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo has some unique insight into the epic coaching showdown that will take place today at the Carrier Dome between good friends Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski, which he shared with Bud Poliquin of Syracuse.com:

"It's kind of a moment in time," announced Colangelo. "You have Hall of Fame coaches ... iconic figures ... terrific competitors ... great friends. With their consistency and longevity, they've taken all the arrows and all the shots, and they've weathered all the storms. And here they are in Syracuse. What a game! What a matchup! It is as good as it gets. I just wish I could be there."

The alarmists are starting to discuss whether Kentucky even will make the NCAA Tournament, because it's entertaining to a fairly large segment of the college basketball audience to consider that possibility. Kentucky's potential remains considerably grander, though, than merely sneaking into the field. The real question is whether the Wildcats ever will connect and mature enough to approach their presumed ceiling.

Arizona's Nick Johnson (13) shoots for two over the attempted defense of Washington's Desmond Simmons (30) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)JOHN MILLER

Johnson is not the most talented player in college basketball. There's a chance he might not be drafted at all. As a 6-foot-3 guard who isn't quite a point guard, he doesn't exactly fit the mold of a lottery pick.

But Johnson is a terrific college player: A leader who hits big shots, doesn't make mistakes and locks down defensively.

"This hurts the most out of every game since I have been at Ohio State," said senior guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. as he fought back tears. "I don't think we care enough. These losses don't hurt enough. This is embarrassing. Every other team in our conference is laughing at us right now. ... My senior year - this is not what I had in mind."